In The Beginning, Chapter 82

The rest of the day passed without incident, and in the days that followed we both fell into our own routines. Appletree each morning, then after lunch Charlie would train with her aunt, occasionally taking Hyacinth with her, while I would go train with the warriors. The grieving family was returned to their pack, as it turned out Kasa had been hesitant to send them, but the father had pleaded his case, insisting that his wife needed to get away from everything that reminded her of their daughter. The list of families that worried Kathy were contacted by Kasa personally, and after a week everyone seemed to settle in. Maria even aided the visiting females by setting up coffee mornings, playdates and book clubs to encourage them not only to mix with members of all three packs, but also, to help them keep a sense of their own community.

It was a cold Sunday afternoon, we’d had a heavy snowfall the night before, and I wanted to check on Hyacinth before I headed for the grounds. I could see the small ribbon of smoke from the meadow, so I knew she still had some wood to keep the place warm, and the omegas had been stocking the kitchen. There had been a different tea delivery to the pack house almost daily, as well as furniture and other bits and pieces, including a full English tea service. As I knocked on the door, I could see the place had been transformed under the Fae’s magical touch. She had explained everything to my mother, who was upset, both with me and Hyacinth, but she soon seemed to be spending a lot of time reconnecting. So, it wasn’t surprising when I stepped inside the warm cottage to find my parents sat on one of the couches in the living room.
“I was just coming to check if you needed anything, but I see you have guests so I will leave you to it, I have to get to training anyway.” I said with a smile to Hyacinth, nodding my hellos to my parents.
“Actually, we should share our discussion, this involves you and Charlie.” She replied with a smile, but I had a bad feeling.
“Have you had a vision? What is it?” I asked as I allowed Hyacinth to guide me to a seat.
“No, it’s nothing like that son... I think... no we think Charlie needs to be crowned Luna, as soon as possible.” My father explained gently, and I found myself utterly bewildered.
“Okay, what’s the rush? I mean it wasn’t that long ago, you didn’t even think she should be Luna, now you want it done ASAP? Why?” I asked my mother, feeling like I was missing something.
“I know, and she surprised me, I’m not ashamed to say I was wrong about her, which is why it needs to happen. She needs to have the pack link if there is an attack.” My mother shocked me by admitting. “That feeling, I’ve been having... It’s getting worse, something is coming, and I don’t want to lose you, because you lost her.” I didn’t know what to say, she didn’t even sound like my mother, I didn’t know if it was Hyacinth, nearly dying, or something else, but she seemed to have thawed slightly.
“We think it would be good for the pack too, have that connection to their Luna, it will be good for the men.” My father added, and it was true, we didn’t know why, but when a pack had a crowned Alpha and Luna, the pack as a whole got stronger. Whether it is productivity, morale, health, everything improved when the pack had both its leaders, and with war breathing down our necks I couldn’t fault their logic.
“I could help prepare everything, with your mother?” Hyacinth offered softly.
“Wait when are you thinking this would happen? We have already started planning for the Spring Equinox.” I asked and tried not to let my own desire sway me. “I’m not sure throwing a big celebration is really the best idea right now.”
“That’s why we want to do it on Luna’s Day, the pack is gathering anyway!” My father tried to insist, but the look on my face made them all pause.
“It is too dangerous for the pack to gather this year. Every warrior will take part of a watch, and celebrations will be held in private.” I informed them of what Ben, and I had decided, I was going to announce it to the pack that evening.
“That would not be good for the pack. I understand the impulse, but Daniel, this is about so much more than a celebration, it’s about who we are, to cancel Luna’s Day... it’s never happened before, the pack needs this. I agree with the men all taking a few hours each to patrol, and even at the prison too, although I’m sure the single men have already volunteered but you should rethink cancelling.” My father pleaded with me.
“I could erect a barrier for the night?” Hyacinth offered, and I found myself smiling. “The visiting warriors are going back to their packs to celebrate, yes? Why don’t we invite both packs here? I will keep us protected, and all three packs can get better acquainted, give them a sense of comradery before they do battle together.”
“Where would everyone stay? We barely had room for the wolves we are hosting already?” I laughed, it seemed like a pipedream.
“I will arrange hotels, or transport, just leave it to me.” Hyacinth encouraged.
“I’ll think about it. I’ve gotta get to the training grounds.” I replied, heading back to the door. “I never would have let you stay if I knew you were going to gang up on me with my parents.” I teased as Hyacinth walked me out.
“Like you had a say in the matter.” She laughed, closing the door on my face. I decided to run to the grounds, having still not come up with a solution to a problem we were having. It was taking too long between me giving an order, and the visiting warriors following them. So far, we had picked a trainer from each pack, I would text them with my order, once I heard their phones receive it, I would link my warriors. But no matter what we did, someone was always out of sync. Kasa and Lander were experiencing the same issue, and like me, neither had a fix. Some of the trainers had resorted to creating battle plays, like in football, so they could call them out in their human forms. The human training was going easier, the new wolves quickly adapted to using our guns and ammo, several had been selected to continue their training as snipers. And one of our recon specialists led a session that uncovered a small group of rogues and other creatures near the pack grounds, they were dealt with quickly, after it became clear they were intending to infiltrate us. Hyacinth’s voice began ringing in my ears, insisting a King was the only way. A thrum of power from Charlie moved over me, making me shiver involuntarily, my cock twitching as the memory of her accidentally doing it in bed flashed in front of my eyes. Since Theia had been teaching her to send her magic outwards to sense threats, other powers, creatures, she had been extending her limits, and she was getting pretty close to covering all of the pack. Charlie had said it made her feel like she was a wave, she could feel everything in her path, but almost as soon as she had gone as far as she could, her power flowed back, and she would be returned to her body. For some reason I was the only one who could feel it, although I did notice a peppiness to the warriors after every wave, I was the only one that felt like she was surrounding me. I slowed down, the last time I got hit in front of the warriors I nearly shifted, it had felt like she was everywhere, kissing me, touching me, every inch of my skin tingled as if she had just left it, and not realising they couldn’t feel it too, my wolf went wild with jealousy. It took Ben, Bailey, Alex, Robert, and my father to hold me down, and figure out what was going on. Her power moved over me again, and I could simultaneously feel her lips everywhere, and her nails lightly scraping my back and scalp. I had to lean against a tree as my knees nearly gave out, while I wondered how much of her consciousness was in that wave for it to affect me like it had.
“Fuck baby, how am I supposed to walk into the grounds when all the blood in my body is in my cock?” I groaned through the link, her adorable giggle tinkled through my mind, sending another shiver down my spine.
“It’s not my fault even my power finds you irresistible.” She teased, and it took every ounce of self-control I had not to turn around, kidnap her from her lesson and lock us away in our bedroom.
“Just warn me next time, so we don’t have a repeat of... you know.” I only half joked.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think.” She breathed, and I felt my claws dig into the bark of the tree I was still leaning against.
“Charlie!” I warned. “I’m dangerously close to snapping, and abandoning training in favour of punishing you.” I threatened, my wolf longing for nothing more.
“I’ll be waiting for you when you’re done.” And I could hear the smile in her voice, our evenings had developed into a pattern of Charlie getting done with training and studying or working until I got back. Then we would share a meal, bathe together, and end the night in each other’s arms. If I wasn’t spending half the night after she fell asleep emailing Ben, Kasa and Lander, and wasn’t constantly looking over our shoulders waiting for the next attack I would have been in heaven. Instead, I spent hours just watching her, unable to sleep for fear I will miss a clue, a sign, or an attack. I could feel the tension building in my neck and shoulders, but I had been unable to relax them for days. Needing an outlet, I circled the grounds, a few of the warriors were warming up in the outdoor gym, they bared their necks but said nothing as I walked to the empty bench press.
“Spot you Alpha?” The warrior asked, he was one of Kasa’s I was sure, but his name was lost to me. I grunted my agreement, and he moved behind me, I glanced at the weights, a less than I typically used but I needed to work of some of my agitation. I did a quick set of ten reps, but it wasn’t enough resistance.
“More weights.” I growled, unwilling to release the bar. I heard the familiar scrapes of the metal before the man appeared above me again. Another set, and I was still tense. “More.” I snarled, letting all the frustrations and stress bubble under the surface, driving me. Once again, the warrior returned, and I did one more set, it still wasn’t wearing me out. “MORE!” I barked, but the warrior froze.
“There is no more, Alpha.” He looked at me worried. I glanced at the weights, and he had indeed placed every weight we had on the bar, I growled, frustrated. An idea coming to me, like a devil or an angel on my shoulder, I wasn’t sure which, I stomped away from the gym to where the warriors would be gathering.
“We are doing something different today. We are going to play defence!” I announced, and I heard a low groan move through my wolves, while the guests looked confused. “For those of you who have never played, it’s like capture the flag, only I am the only one doing the capturing, the rest of you will be tasked with finding somewhere to hide your flag and defend it. Any questions?” I asked the group, An eager young wolf from Lander’s pack raised his hand.
“What’s the record?” He asked with a grin.
“Mine? Or Theirs?” I asked, and I heard the same groan. “The quickest I have defeated a class, took me only forty-three minutes. The class to have lasted the longest, hold a record of three hours and seventeen minutes. You will have members of both class in your numbers, I suggest you use your thirty-minute head start to discover where they went wrong!”